[hfly]

It's been three years in the making, but the new, legal Hazard County trail is now complete. What the trail lacks in over-the-top technicality (ala, the "old" Hazard), it makes up for in views and smooth flowiness.

Hazard is the critical link that enables Burro Down, aka The Whole Enchilada, a downhill run of just under 30 miles that drops from 11,300 feet to 4,000 feet via a sequence of gorgeous trails (Burro Pass --> Hazard --> Kokopelli --> UPS --> LPS --> Porcupine Rim). The run begins near treeline and descends through multiple lifezones as it makes its way to the river. A shorter run that involves only a few hundred feet of climbing cuts out the Burro Pass section and descends from Hazard down (still over a vertical mile) via this same sequence.

Anticipating the imminent popularity of this DH, the Forest Service has constructed a big new parking lot at the top of Hazard. Singletrack begins right out of this lot, making the well-graded climb of about 150 feet up to the top of Hazard. Gone is the miserable dirt road that riders of the old Hazard had to climb.

Here's the view from the parking lot. That's Mts. Mellenthin, Laurel and Tuk from left to right:

 

[hfly]

Pictures fail to do justice to the scope of the views from the top of Bald Mesa, across which Hazard has been built. Compared to the old, poached Hazard, which remained in the trees through most of its length, the new version mixes balds and glades to an excellent, aesthetic effect.

Near the top, here's a kicker under construction. Evidently there are going to be lots of these things as sort of B-line options all the way down.

 

[hfly]

Big S-curves descending towards Castle Rock:

 

[hfly]

Dorky timer picture of me working my way down. I was by myself; hence the lack of rider pictures.

 

[hfly]

There are plenty of "snakey through the quakie" sections just like this:

 

[DWF]

That looks cool!

So, hfly, ummm, what became of the old route?....

 

[hfly]

This ride is a good thing for Moab. Kokopelli to Town has grown immensely popular over the past year, and this raises the start of that neo-classic by anywhere from 1200-3000 feet.

A word about the legality of the trails involved. Burro Pass has always been legal to bikes. Hazard (in this new form) is now legal, though I don't think the trail officially opens for a few more weeks. Kokopelli is a fully legal road that has become a sort of "best line" singletrack. UPS is of dubious legality. It is on Forest Service land, and its cliff-edge sections cross through raptor habitat. The word I've heard (from F.S. types) is that it is going to undergo a reroute (of the cliff edge section), and may be more strictly enforced as an illegal route while the reroute is taking place. UPS is commonly ridden these days and I do not know of any tickets being handed out, and it is not signed as illegal, but it is NOT an official, fully endorsed trail as everyone seems to think it is. LPS is built over an open travel area of BLM land and is apparently getting grandfathered in as tacitly OK by the powers that be. Porcupine is of course legal and completes the sequence.

I hope this helps to clarify the current state of affairs with regard to Burro Down.

hfly

 

[hfly]

So, hfly, ummm, what became of the old route?....

I didn't walk over and look at it today, but the old route is no longer being used as it crosses through sensitive elk habitat. The new route is really nothing like the old, especially since it's climbable.

There has been some talk of a more DH oriented line down Bald Mesa, but it isn't going to happen imminently.

hfly

 

[DWF]

This ride is a good thing for Moab. Kokopelli to Town has grown immensely popular over the past year, and this raises the start of that neo-classic by anywhere from 1200-3000 feet.

A word about the legality of the trails involved. Burro Pass has always been legal to bikes. Hazard (in this new form) is now legal, though I don't think the trail officially opens for a few more weeks. Kokopelli is a fully legal road that has become a sort of "best line" singletrack. UPS is of dubious legality. It is on Forest Service land, and its cliff-edge sections cross through raptor habitat. The word I've heard (from F.S. types) is that it is going to undergo a reroute (of the cliff edge section), and may be more strictly enforced as an illegal route while the reroute is taking place. UPS is commonly ridden these days and I do not know of any tickets being handed out, and it is not signed as illegal, but it is NOT an official, fully endorsed trail as everyone seems to think it is. LPS is built over an open travel area of BLM land and is apparently getting grandfathered in as tacitly OK by the powers that be. Porcupine is of course legal and completes the sequence.

I hope this helps to clarify the current state of affairs with regard to Burro Down.

hfly

Thanks for the clarification, hfly. I assumed that since "Burro Down" or Enchilada was published in whatshisname's Moab trail book that it had become "legal" for lack of a better term.

 

[Debaser]

Looks amazing. When does it get snowed in?

 

[cactuscorn]

thanx fly! i know this has been a sore point for you and other locals in the past. congrats and cool of ya to get us all on the same page. nice pics too. cant wait to check it all out later this year. question for ya. is this doable in full d/h gear without dehydration or a similar death on a 40 lb bike or is a lighter 5" ride more reasonable?

 

[hfly]

When does it get snowed in?

Hazard should be pretty much snow-free through mid-October. Burro will likely get some snowfall once or twice before that.

hfly

 

[hfly]

Is this doable in full d/h gear without dehydration or a similar death on a 40 lb bike or is a lighter 5" ride more reasonable?

I think almost anything will work. However, with the exception of Burro, almost all the downhill is pedally, and some sections are more across than down. I can ride everything (with the exception of one notch on LPS) on my hardtail, and I'm no badass, so I think a 5/5 setup would be more than enough for you.

hfly

 

[hfly]

I assumed that since "Burro Down" or Enchilada was published in whatshisname's Moab trail book that it had become "legal" for lack of a better term.

Mel described a version in his book that was devoid of Hazard, UPS and LPS. Such a version involves some strained road segments. Kudos to him though for not publishing the STs in advance of their legalization.

hfly

 

[catch22]

Thanks for the update hfly. I still vividly recall your pic post on the original ride from some years ago, one of my favorite passion hits ever, for which I think you ened up taking some grief. I never rode the old one but need to make the jaunt down there from SLC to see the new route. Like you, I think this will be a really good thing for Moab. Doesn't hurt to have some legit and legal high elevation singletrack to escape the summer heat. Any idea what the status is as far as motos go? Hoping they designated that route as a non-motorized area.

 

[beagledadi]

Sorry....

what state is this, near what city on the map, looks awesome!

 

[hfly]

Any idea what the status is as far as motos go? Hoping they designated that route as a non-motorized area.

Non-motorized, to be signed specifically as such.

I gave myself more grief over that post several years ago than I ever received from others.

hfly

 

[scrublover]

Very nice. Extremely nice. Hope to see ya when I get out that way again; likely early-ish in the fall.

Maybe next time I ride that stuff, my rear derailleur will stay intact.

 

[PAmtbiker]

Looks great

I wish the snow was melted/the trail was finished when I was there in early March. That looks like a sweet ride. You guys at the Trail Mix Comittee sure know how to build trails. I'm glad I got to work with you.

 

[Debaser]

Hazard should be pretty much snow-free through mid-October. Burro will likely get some snowfall once or twice before that.

hfly

Thanks for that.

And thanks for the posts over time. They've made me want to step out of the house and ride. And they've made me want to make that 6 hour trek to your part of the world.